you don't have to pay for exercise.

I know.  It seems obvious.  But this really didn't occur to me until this summer.  Going to a gym is not your only option!  In fact, you don't even have to exercise to get exercise.

Don't get me wrong: I love a good workout at the gym.  It feels awesome to be able to leave and say, "I just burned 347 calories!"  And silently competing with your neighbors can be a great motivation to push a little harder.  BUT unless you just relish the almost clinical feel and just can't wait to watch Will & Grace while you pump your legs, mustering up the motivation just to make yourself go can be daunting.  I think it's because when we put the label of "exercise" on it as something we have to do, it becomes unappealing.  I mean, how clean is your room before you finally get to that paper, right?  Because its necessary you want to do anything but.

Still, you have to get your butt moving if you want to be any sort of healthy.  This isn't about losing weight or looking good (the conclusion my dad jumps to every time I mention the subject), but it's about forcing the sugar out of my blood and into my muscles and being generally more active.  And besides, what if you're being chased down by an axe murderer?  Don't you want to be in good enough shape to get away?  I'd be the first one down, for sure.

So I've been trying to exercise without exercising.  Hike a mountain.  Swim in a lake.  Go for a bike ride.  Go for a walk, even.  Anything beats sitting in front of the TV or computer writing up a stupid blog post about exercise.  I wonder how good of a workout typing is?  Stenographers were fit ladies, were they not?  I digress...  Living room dance party? I've done that one.  Hell, climb a tree!  Its what kids used to do and they were in great shape!  Go outside and play.

My point is: exercise can be fun and it doesn't have to be necessary if you work it into your day.  Park further back.  Take the stairs.  Do the dishes by hand.  Have sex.  I realize that most of these activities are more fun with a partner, so the number one best thing you can do for your activity level?  Find active friends.

I realize we've all heard this stuff before, but I had to go to class today.  AND Sam's.  So I'm kind of drained.  Shopping at Sam's is scary, y'all.  And it definitely counts as moderate exercise.  THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE BEANS!  What kind of crazy store doesn't have beans???  Needless to say I won't be going back, for more reasons than one.  But I'm sure I can whip up a few posts on that subject alone.  But now I have to go tend to the beans that I didn't get at Sam's (had to pop over to his now rebranded, more mom friendly partner store Walmart).  Yuck.